in the autumn last year i had two hedgehogs visit me every night

according to the 'experts' they are solitary animals - tell these two as they fed together inches apart on the mealworms i put out for the blackbirds

so after consulting the 'expert' forums i weighed each one to see if they carried enough weight to survive hibernation - both just met these figures so bought two hedgehog houses and put them under a large bush in the garden

having had such a hard winter i thought both would have died - but about two weeks ago 'Horace' showed up and a week later 'Izzy' arrived

it may be daft but they both seemed to remember me - no curling in a ball - lots of squeaks and happy snuffling

both now turn up at the back door at about 10pm and wait to be fed - and can they eat!!!

each has a big mug of mealworms per night - so costing me £10/week which i do not begrudge

anyone else have hedgehogs?

I thought i had one once so started putting food out for it, but quickly stopped when I discovered it was rats. 
Gone - Range Rover Supercharged 2006

to be honest most people are not aware that they have hedgehogs visiting - as nocturnal animals you are not likely to see them

if you see a hedgehog in the daytime its 'poorly' - get in touch with your local hedgehog rescue service (see the net) and they will collect it and treat illness etc

do NOT put out milk and bread to feed them - its a popular myth!! - it gives them a bad 'tummy'

if you want to put food out - mealworms/dry cat biscuits/dog food (not cat) with chicken/minced cooked chicken

make sure they have a big bowl of water - to drink and they like a bath

do NOT EVER treat them with flea powder -it will KILL them - i've certain treatments available for hedgehogs and will send them to you free of charge

they are wild animals NOT pets - they are not play things for you or your dogs/cats

when they get to know you they are very friendly - but keep a 'distance' - not everyone will love/care for them so they need to retain some wild instinct/fear of humans

Unfortunately you can see that they are coming out of hybernation................. in the 5 miles between here and the next village this morning there must have been a dozen squashed on the road......... They are the gardeners friend as in addition to your mealworms they will eat the slugs that come to feed on any tender juicey plants you might have planted out recently.

I still have the pheasant coming to my garden everyday around 2pm - eats all the bird food mix bits that the sparrows and starlings leave behind.

Like you Nick, I have normally solitary animals sharing the bird food - this time it's robins who are usually fiercely territorial but most days I have 3 or 4 of them all quite happy to feed together off the ground feeding bird feeder that I have on the patio. Just been watching the most funny bunch of sparrows having a communal dust bath on my vegetable patch and the noise of them chirping was amazing 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

time to get a tv tim....  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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Maybe time to move into town I think. Just think of the money i could save - no FFRR necessary, no Defender necessary, no garden to look after, no need for TV coz I'd be out every night instead of vegetating ............................... strange that when I did have a flat in the centre of town I spent nearly everyday driving back out to my folks place in the country though! 2018 Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4 PHEV in Melting Silver - it’s whisper quiet in EV and polluter modes

there's something magical about the countryside especially during the summer.. ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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i've got starlings already with young - and one of the blackbirds was taking food away this morning

sadly lost one of my regular blackbirds to a sparrowhawk earlier this year (yes, i know they have to eat as well!)

had a toad eating mealworms last night and had a few field voles come for the seeds

one of the neighbours cats was getting a bit bold but the magpie carried out a vicious attack!

Last edited by nick h on 17th Apr 2011 11:25am. Edited 1 time in total

We had a hedgehog last year - scared the @@@@ out of me the first time I found out about it - what's that rustling and snuffling just outside the window! Not seen it yet this year, hope he'll be along soon.

We also have pheasants, partridges and muntjacs on top of the 'normal' birds, frogs etc. Pretty nice really.

soon be time for hedgehogs to get 'loving' - so i'm leaving my two hedgehog 'houses' alone in the hope that a female may choose to raise a family in one or the other

Horace could be a female? - and Izzy?

as Tim said there are a lot of road accident victims at this time of year as they seek out food sources after coming out of hibernation

apparently they can travel over 1 mile per night - not bad going considering the little legs

nick h wrote:

...anyone else have hedgehogs?

We have had a hedgehog in the garden every year for the 18 years we have been here... Every one of them called Henry! The last one would walk up to our cats bowl and start eating the cat biscuits, as the cat was eating! Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

ye Gods

another one arrived last night

about 10.30 i thought i'd see if Horace and Izzy had arrived and there were three of them huddled together eating mealworms

off for another £10 bag of mealworms this morning

Words obviously got around  My Previous RR's!
2018 P400e Autobiography
2008 TDV8 Vogue
2006 TD6 Vogue
2007 TDV8 Vogue
2007 RRS (I know, it doesn't count!)
2005 4.4 Vogue on LPG
2005 TD6 Vogue
2003 4.4 Vogue
2001 4.6 HSE
2000 2.5 DHSE
1999 4.6 HSE
1997 4.6 HSE on LPG
1995 2.5 DSE
1989 3.9 EFI classic
1988 3.5 EFI classic

with two hedgehog houses i will no doubt hear the patter of tiny paws soon

decided to buy £20 of mealworms this morning (thats wholesale price)

can't put out cat biscuits/dog food etc as i have a Labrador

going to borrow my friends nvg's and watch them tonight